But now Little John and nineteen stout fellows whom he had chosen for his band, came forth all ready for the journey.  Each man wore upon his breast a coat of linked mail, and on his head a cap of steel, and at his side a good stout sword.  A gallant show they made as they stood all in a row.  Then Robin came and threw a chain of gold about Sir Richard’s neck, and Will Scarlet knelt and buckled the golden spurs upon his heel; and now Little John led forward Sir Richard’s horse, and the Knight mounted.  He looked down at Robin for a little time, then of a sudden stooped and kissed his cheek.  All the forest glades rang with the shout that went up as the Knight and the yeomen marched off through the woodland with glare of torches and gleam of steel, and so were gone.

Then up spake the Bishop of Hereford in a mournful voice, “I, too, must be jogging, good fellow, for the night waxes late.”

But Robin laid his hand upon the Bishop’s arm and stayed him.  “Be not so hasty, Lord Bishop,” said he.  “Three days hence Sir Richard must pay his debts to Emmet; until that time thou must be content to abide with me lest thou breed trouble for the Knight.  I promise thee that thou shalt have great sport, for I know that thou art fond of hunting the dun deer.  Lay by thy mantle of melancholy, and strive to lead a joyous yeoman life for three stout days.  I promise thee thou shalt be sorry to go when the time has come.”

So the Bishop and his train abided with Robin for three days, and much sport his lordship had in that time, so that, as Robin had said, when the time had come for him to go he was sorry to leave the greenwood.  At the end of three days Robin set him free, and sent him forth from the forest with a guard of yeomen to keep freebooters from taking what was left of the packs and bundles.

But, as the Bishop rode away, he vowed within himself that he would sometime make Robin rue the day that he stopped him in Sherwood.

But now we shall follow Sir Richard; so listen, and you shall hear what befell him, and how he paid his debts at Emmet Priory, and likewise in due season to Robin Hood.

How Sir Richard of the Lea Paid His Debts

THE LONG HIGHWAY stretched straight on, gray and dusty in the sun.  On either side were dikes full of water bordered by osiers, and far away in the distance stood the towers of Emmet Priory with tall poplar trees around.

Along the causeway rode a knight with a score of stout men-at-arms behind him.  The Knight was clad in a plain, long robe of gray serge, gathered in at the waist with a broad leathern belt, from which hung a long dagger and a stout sword.  But though he was so plainly dressed himself, the horse he rode was a noble barb, and its trappings were rich with silk and silver bells.

So thus the band journeyed along the causeway between the dikes, till at last they reached the great gate of Emmet Priory.  There the Knight called to one of his men and bade him knock at the porter’s lodge with the heft of his sword.